Alabama

Gem of an Iron Bowl matchup sparkles with storylines

Auburn quarterback Cameron Newton (2) runs for a first down against Chattanooga in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 6, 2010 at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

TUSCALOOSA -- It's here, at last, for a 75th year. The Iron Bowl always has been a jewel among college football's top rivalries, and the diamond anniversary is a gem of a matchup.

When BCS No. 11 Alabama (9-2) hosts BCS No. 2 Auburn (11-0) at 1:30 p.m. today, consider a few of the unprecedented storylines that will make CBS' national broadcast must-see TV:

The team that won the 2009 national championship will face a team that is three victories from the 2010 national championship.

The 2009 Heisman Trophy winner will share a field with the 2010 Heisman Trophy favorite, as Alabama junior running back Mark Ingram plays opposite Auburn junior quarterback Cam Newton. Not since 1963 winner Roger Staubauch of Navy matched up against 1964 winner John Huarte of Notre Dame has a Heisman winner and an eventual Heisman winner met during the regular season. No. 2 Notre Dame won that showdown 40-0, avenging a 35-14 loss to No. 4 Navy the previous season.

The 2008 coach of the year will try to beat a 2010 coach of the year finalist, and what a swing game this is. A victory today would make Nick Saban 3-1 as Alabama's coach against Auburn, and it would make Auburn coach Gene Chizik 0-2 against Alabama. But an Auburn victory would make Saban 2-2 and Chizik 1-1.

Despite its two losses and Auburn's storybook season, Alabama is a 4½-point favorite.

"Even though we've had a winning record this year, people still expect us to lose," Auburn guard Mike Berry said. "We still carry that as a chip on our shoulder."

For the second consecutive season, the visitor already has clinched the SEC Western Division championship. Alabama will try to play the role of the spoiler.

Alabama's Mark Ingram (22) get stopped for a loss by South Carolina's defense during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 9, 2010, at Williams Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Mary Ann Chastain)

"Those guys are undefeated, going to the SEC Championship, and if they win out, they'll play for the national championship," Ingram said. "All the pressure is on them."

But the nature of the rivalry means there's more than a national championship at stake. Auburn defensive coordinator Ted Roof understands what the Iron Bowl represents even in ordinary seasons.

"It doesn't let go," he said. "It stays with you. It's certainly the fiercest I've ever been a part of. ... Wherever you travel in this state, you know by the way people look at you if they're for you or against you."

Don't think it isn't a big, big game for the Crimson Tide.

"There aren't too many games that are bigger than the Iron Bowl other than maybe the national championship," linebacker Dont'a Hightower said. "Even people in this state would beg to differ that they would rather win the Iron Bowl than the national championship, so this game means a lot to us."

Indeed, there could be nothing but bragging rights riding on this state championship game and the game would be meaningful.

"Big picture or no big picture, this game is extremely important to us as coaches, definitely our players and certainly our fans," Auburn coach Gene Chizik said.

The largest crowd to see an Iron Bowl will pack 101,821-seat Bryant-Denny Stadium to capacity on what is expected to be a cool, breezy afternoon. Frenzy could be Alabama's biggest friend.

Newton will be the Tigers' biggest advantage, though the 6-foot-6, 250-pound star will come into the game under a cloud of play-for-pay allegations that center on his father but so far not Auburn. He will perform in by far the most hostile environment he has faced, but none of those shouts, shaking fists or waving banners can knock him down.

"When they spread you out on the field and he scrambles, or even when he's running one of his set running plays, you have to do a good job of tackling," Saban said. "That's what great players do. They make themselves hard to tackle."

Hightower will second that notion.

"You see Cam making plays that you wouldn't necessarily expect," Hightower said. "He's got two guys on his back and he's stiff-arming one guy and the next thing you know he breaks out with a 42-yard run. That's when you just have to get in the film room and see the things he likes to do, like set you up for cutbacks, when he likes to use the stiff-arm, what gaps he likes to run through on certain powers and counters and what he likes to do. ... He's a really good player."

Alabama players and coaches have bemoaned the fact that the Tide has yet to play a true 60-minute game this season.

"I think our best game is still out there," Saban said. "It would be great to have that game Friday."